Even after the demolition squad arrived she remained inside the house hoping that someone would do some magic and the house where she is staying for the last few decades would be saved. That didn’t happen and the squad demolished her structure and her new home is now under a tarpaulin sheet and her household goods are getting wet in the rain.
Dozens of women were facing a similar fate on Saturday, unable to understand what made the state administration so quick to respond that they demolished their structures without giving them time to make alternative arrangements. Ironically these families were waiting for electricity and water connections next week, and hoping for some good news from the district court on Saturday afternoon where the civil case filed by them was to be heard. But before they could get any relief the administration completed the demolition process by 12.20 pm.
“Where should we go, we are unable to find alternative shelter and the administration snatched our shelter from us amidst the rains. At least on humanitarian grounds the government should have considered our plea to give us time but the way they came and bulldozed our structures makes us feel that the administration was on a mission,” said a resident from Baina who lost his house on Saturday.
On ground zero, almost everyone who lost their shelter after the demolition was asking: ‘Why did the government carry out the demolition without prior notice and what was the hurry as if the government wanted to take up any development projects they would have voluntarily vacated as per the court directives.’
“We are not against development at Baina Beach. We too want that the beach see a facelift but we had hope that the government would give us some rehabilitation like they gave others. Never in our dreams did we think we would be displaced in such a manner,” said Rajesh Nair, resident of Baina.
It was the 11th anniversary of the Baina demolition on June 14, and six days later the residents witnessed something that appeared like a repeat telecast of 2004, the only difference was that this time it was migrant labourers who turn important only at election time.
“It is the BJP government that is to be condemned for an attack on the lives of people, especially the aged, ill, and children among them, whose houses were bulldozed during the downpours,” said a local resident.
There were several school students who missed school, patients avoided going to doctors, housewives did not cook food and heads of families did not go to work, while small children watched the demolition of the structures where they were born. Their feelings could be gauged by the tears and sobs but there was no one to wipe them away.
It is not only the occupants of the 50-odd structures that were demolished but even the other occupants, party to the petition filed at High court, who appeared shocked and worried. “We don’t know whether we have to face a similar fate in the coming days,” said a Baina local.
Those who lost their homes will remember the day especially because the administration gave them no time to look for options and kept the entire exercise confidential with the order and its execution being done in less than 24 hours.
